Production process and production apparatus of three-dimensionally structure material

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a process for producing a three-dimensionally structured material, which comprises the steps of preparing a liquid composition comprising a block polymer and a liquid medium, and imparting a stimulus to the liquid composition to modify the block polymer, thereby forming the three-dimensionally structured material.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a production process and a productionapparatus of a three-dimensionally structured material, and particularlyto a three-dimensional pattern-forming process or a three-dimensionalshaping process used in a functional device-fabricating step, rapidprototyping or the like, and materials and apparatus thereof.

BACKGROUND ART

In fabrication of devices making good use of micromechanics orfabrication of active devices heretofore used in semiconductors anddisplay elements, a step of etching using spin coating and patternedexposure is conducted as a process for forming a stericthree-dimensional pattern. It has also been recently known to directlyform a three-dimensional pattern using minute ink-jet technology.

Technological development mainly for rapid prototyping withthree-dimensional shaping technology using a stereolithographictechnique or liquid-jet technique (see Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open No. H05-279436) is also increasingly conducted to developtechnology for producing a larger molded object without using theso-called mold.

However, the above-described production process of a three-dimensionallystructured material, such as the conventional three-dimensionalpattern-forming process or three-dimensional shaping process, may be notyet sufficient in some cases from the viewpoint of cost or performance,and its use is limited to limited users. There is thus a demand for moreimprovement in technical level under these circumstances.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing backgroundart and has achieved as its object the provision of a process for easilyproducing a three-dimensionally structured material by modifying aliquid composition comprising a block polymer and a liquid medium.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus forproducing a three-dimensionally structured material by modifying aliquid composition comprising a block polymer and a liquid medium.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a liquidcomposition comprising a modifiable block polymer and a liquid medium,and a three-dimensionally structured material formed from thiscomposition.

In a first aspect of the present invention, there is thus provided aprocess for producing a three-dimensionally structured material, whichcomprises the steps of preparing a liquid composition comprising a blockpolymer and a liquid medium, and imparting a stimulus to the liquidcomposition to modify the block polymer, thereby forming thethree-dimensionally structured material.

The process may preferably further comprise a step of solidifying theliquid composition after the modification of the block copolymer.

The block polymer may preferably be amphiphilic and form micelles.

The process may preferably further comprise a step of ejecting theliquid composition to form the three-dimensionally structured material.

A functional substance may preferably be included in the block polymer.

The block polymer may preferably have a repeating structure of a monomerunit composed of an alkenyl ether.

In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided anapparatus for producing a three-dimensionally structured material, whichcomprises a means for imparting a stimulus to a liquid compositioncomprising a block polymer and a liquid medium to modify the blockpolymer, thereby forming the three-dimensionally structured material.

In a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquidcomposition suitable for use in producing a three-dimensionallystructured material, which comprises a block polymer modifiable bystimulus and a liquid medium.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided athree-dimensionally structured material formed by a block polymermodifiable by stimulus.

According to the present invention, there can be provided a process foreasily producing a three-dimensionally structured material by modifyinga liquid composition comprising a block polymer and a liquid medium.

According to the present invention, there can also be provided anapparatus for producing a three-dimensionally structured material bymodifying a liquid composition comprising a block polymer and a liquidmedium.

According to the present invention, there can further be provided aliquid composition comprising a modifiable block polymer and a liquidmedium, and a three-dimensionally structured material formed from thiscomposition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a three-dimensional pattern-formingprocess by a liquid-jet method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of a liquid-jetrecording apparatus.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention will hereinafter be described in detail.

In the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided aprocess for shaping a three-dimensionally structured material using amodifiable liquid composition, which comprises modifying the liquidcomposition comprising a block polymer in a liquid medium.

A process for forming a steric three-dimensional pattern in fabricationof devices making good use of micromechanics or fabrication of activedevices heretofore used in semiconductors and display elements, andthree-dimensional shaping technology mainly for rapid prototyping withthree-dimensional shaping technology using a stereolithographictechnique or liquid-jet technique (Japanese Patent Application Laid-OpenNo. H05-279436) as technology for producing a larger molded objectwithout using the so-called mold are representative of a shaping processusing a modifiable liquid composition. In the present invention, athree-dimensional shaping process using the stereolithographic techniqueor liquid-jet technique is also preferably used. Stereolithographicapparatus, SCS-8000 and SCS-3000 manufactured by D-MEC LTD., and thelike are known as specific examples of such stereolithographic methodsand apparatus. Thermo-Jet 3D Printer, In-Vision 3D Printer and the likeare known as three-dimensional shaping methods and apparatus by theso-called liquid-ejection method based on the ink-jet technology.

In such a three-dimensional object-shaping process using no mold, athree-dimensional object is formed by modifying and solidifying a liquidcomposition by light or any other external field. As a typical examplein the stereolithography, a photo-curable liquid composition is filledin a bath, a laser beam or ultraviolet ray is applied to a portion toform an intended three-dimensional object to cure the liquid compositionof this portion, thereby forming a cured three-dimensional object, and aperipheral uncured portion of the liquid composition is removed, wherebythe intended three-dimensional object can be obtained. A feature of thepresent invention resides in that a liquid composition comprising ablock polymer, which is also called a block copolymer, as a component insuch a liquid composition is used.

The block polymer used in the present invention is a polymer called ablock polymer or block copolymer, in which polymers of different segmentstructures are bonded into a chain by a covalent bond. In the presentinvention, a graft polymer may also be used. The graft polymer is such apolymer that polymers of different segment structures are covalentlybonded in the form of a character ‘T.’ Specific examples of the blockpolymer usable in the present invention include conventionally knownblock polymers such as acrylic or methacrylic block polymers, blockpolymers composed of polystyrene and any other addition polymerizationsystem or condensation polymerization system, and block polymers havingblocks of polyoxyethylene, polyoxyalkylene, polyalkenyl ether or thelike. In the present invention, the block copolymer is more preferablyin a block form of AB, ABA, ABD or the like. A, B and D indicate blocksegments different from one another.

In the present invention, the block copolymer may be such a graftpolymer that another polymer is boned in the form of a character ‘T’ toa certain polymer chain. Each segment of the block polymer may be acopolymer segment, and the copolymer form thereof may be, for example, arandom segment or graduation segment.

The present inventors have carried out an extensive investigationrepeatedly. As a result, it has been found that when a liquidcomposition comprising the block polymer is used in the above-describedshaping method, modifiable properties derived from the block polymer areutilized, a three-dimensional pattern can be formed with extremely goodresults. Since the block polymer has different 2 or more block segments,functional separation between physical properties or characteristics ofrespective segments is clearly made, and so it is suitable for use asvarious functional materials. In particular, when the liquid compositionis used in the above-described shaping method, extremely excellentproperties or characteristics can be exhibited, and an excellentthree-dimensional pattern-forming process can be realized.

It is preferable that an amphiphilic block polymer be used to use amicelle structure formed by this polymer at least either before or afterthe modification. It goes without saying that the micelle structure maybe used both before and after the modification. The micelle structure ispreferably formed at the time the liquid composition has been modifiedor solidified into a three-dimensional object or in the course ofconversion into the three-dimensional object. The present inventors havealso found that when the micelle state is utilized upon the formation ofa three-dimensional object has been formed, its characteristicviscoelastic properties are extremely suitable for the formation of thethree-dimensional object.

A preferable range for the viscoelastic properties in formation of thethree-dimensional object is from 10⁻¹ to 10⁸ Pa for G′ (storage modulus)and from 10⁻¹ to 10⁸ Pa for G″ (loss modulus), and a more preferablerange is from 10² to 10⁷ Pa for G′ and from 10² to 10⁷ Pa for G″. Ifboth G′ and G″ exceed 10⁸ Pa in formation of the three-dimensionalobject, only a three-dimensional object in a distorted form may beformed in some cases. If both G′ and G″ are lower than 10⁻¹ Pa, nothree-dimensional object may be formed in some cases. Conditions ofG′≧G″ are preferably used. G′ and G″ may be generally measured by aviscoelastometer, or the so-called rheometer. These viscoelasticproperties appear in the course of the modification. The liquidcomposition may have the viscoelastic properties in all the course ofthe modification, or a state having these viscoelastic properties may betemporally formed. Both G′ and G″ of the liquid composition before themodification are preferably one hundredths or lower, more preferably onethousandths or lower of the above-described respective ranges.

The micelle referred to in the present invention may be normal micellesin a water-based solvent or reversed micelles in an organic solvent. Inthe present invention, the micelle is defined as a micelle taken in awide sense. When a self-accumulating phase-separated higher-orderstructured material is formed in a solvent by having both solvophilicand solvophobic segments, such a structured material is regarded as amicelle. In other words, when a block polymer having a segment solublein, for example, toluene and a segment insoluble therein is dispersed intoluene, a structured material, in which a solvophilic portion and asolvophobic portion undergo phase separation, is formed. Such astructured material is also regarded as a micelle in the presentinvention. In a narrow sense, it may also be interpreted that thepresence of water is indispensable both for the normal micelle and thereversed micelle. In the present invention, however, such a standpointis not taken. The form of the micelle referred to in the presentinvention may be any of spherical, elliptical, cylindrical and lamellarforms.

A structured material in which a functional substance is adsorbed on andcoated with a solvophilic portion of an amphiphilic block polymer, i.e.,a coated functional substance structured material is also suitably usedin the present invention. This coated functional substance structuredmaterial may be considered a micelle in a wide sense. The functionalsubstance in the present invention may be any form of solid, powder andliquid and means a compound or composition exhibiting a desiredfunction. As examples thereof, may be mentioned agricultural chemicalssuch as herbicides and insecticides, medicaments such as anti-cancerdrugs, anti-allergic drugs and antiphlogistics, and coloring materials,typically, dyes and pigments. Examples of the agricultural chemicalsinclude active compounds having a herbicidal effect and active compoundshaving an insecticidal effect. Examples of the medicaments includecompounds easing or remitting a target condition. The present inventionis particularly effective when the functional substance is a coloringmaterial. When such a three-dimensional object as described above isproduced, multi-color, preferably full-color representation becomesfeasible, and so the use of the coloring material as the functionalsubstance is highly useful. As specific examples of the coloringmaterial, may be mentioned particulate solids such as pigments, and dyecompounds.

As described above, examples of the coloring material include pigments.Examples of the pigments include inorganic achromatic pigments andorganic or inorganic chromatic pigments. Colorless or light-coloredpigments and metalescent pigments may also be used. Pigments newlysynthesized for the present invention may also be used. Examples of thepigments are mentioned below.

As examples of black pigments, may be mentioned Raven 1060 (trade name,product of Columbian Carbon Co.), Black Pearls L, MOGUL-L, Regal 400R,Regal 660R and Regal 330R (trade name, products of Cabot Company), ColorBlack FW1 and Printex 140V (trade name, products of Degussa AG), andMA100 (trade name, product of Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation). However,the present invention is not limited thereto.

As examples of cyan pigments, may be mentioned C.I. Pigment Blue 1, C.I.Pigment Blue 2, C.I. Pigment Blue 3 and C.I. Pigment Blue 15. However,the present invention is not limited thereto.

As examples of magenta pigments, may be mentioned C.I. Pigment Red 5,C.I. Pigment Red 7 and C.I. Pigment Red 12. However, the presentinvention is not limited thereto.

As examples of yellow pigments, may be mentioned C.I. Pigment Yellow 12,C.I. Pigment Yellow 13, C.I. Pigment Yellow 14, C.I. Pigment Yellow 16,C.I. Pigment Yellow 17 and C.I. Pigment Yellow 74. However, the presentinvention is not limited thereto.

In the present invention, dyes may also be used like the pigments.

The dyes usable in the present invention may be either publicly known ornovel, and water-soluble dyes such as direct dyes, acid dyes, basicdyes, reactive dyes and food dyes, fat-soluble (oil-soluble) dyes, andinsoluble colorants such as disperse dyes as described below may beused. These dyes may also be used in a solid state. Regarding this, forexample, oil-soluble dyes are preferably used.

Examples thereof include C.I. Solvent Blue 33, 38, 42, 45, 53, 65, 67,70, 104, 114, 115 and 135; C.I. Solvent Red 25, 31, 86, 92, 97, 118,132, 160, 186, 187 and 219; C.I. Solvent Yellow 1, 49, 62, 74, 79, 82,83, 89, 90, 120, 121, 151, 153 and 154.

Water-soluble dyes may also be used. Examples thereof include directdyes such as C.I. Direct Black 17; C.I. Direct Yellow 12 and 24; C.I.Direct Red 1, 4 and 13; C.I. Direct Blue 6, 22 and 25; C.I. DirectOrange 34 and 39; C.I. Direct Violet 47 and 48; C.I. Direct Brown 109;and C.I. Direct Green 59,

acid dyes such as C.I. Acid Black 2 and 7; C.I. Acid Yellow 11 and 17;C.I. Acid Red 1, 6 and 8; C.I. Acid Blue 9 and 22; C.I. Acid Orange 7and 19; and C.I. Acid Violet 49,

reactive dyes such as C.I. Reactive Black 1 and 5; C.I. Reactive Yellow2 and 3; C.I. Reactive Red 3 and 13; C.I. Reactive Blue 2 and 3; C.I.Reactive Orange 5 and 7; C.I. Reactive Violet 1, 4 and 5; C.I. ReactiveGreen 5 and 8; and C.I. Reactive Brown 2 and 7, and

C.I. Basic Black 2; C.I. Basic Red 1 and 2; C.I. Basic Blue 1, 3 and 5;C.I. Basic Violet 7, 14 and 27; and C.I. Food Black 1 and 2.

Incidentally, the examples of the coloring materials mentioned above areparticularly preferred for the compositions according to the presentinvention. However, the coloring materials used in the present inventionare not particularly limited to the coloring materials mentioned above.

When a functional substance is used, the functional substance ispreferably contained in the liquid composition in a range of from 0.01to 80% by mass based on the whole mass of the liquid composition. Whentwo or more functional substances are used, the total amount thereof ispreferably set so as to fall within the above-described range. When theamount of the functional substances is not less than 0.01% by mass, asufficient function is achieved. When the amount is not more than 80% bymass, good dispersibility is achieved. The amount is preferably within arange of from 0.1% by mass to 50% by mass, more preferably from 0.3% bymass to 30% by mass. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention,the functional substance is used in such a state as being coated withand included in the amphiphilic block polymer. However, it may not benecessarily coated and included.

In the present invention, it is a preferred use mode to use a micellestate formed by the amphiphilic block polymer. In this state, a verypreferable effect can be exhibited in the formation of thethree-dimensional object as described above. However, it is particularlypreferably used in conducting three-dimensional imaging of a multi-colorobject using plural kinds of liquid compositions containing a coloringmaterial. In other words, an excellent multi-color three-dimensionallyimaged object can be provided. There have heretofore arisen suchproblems that color mixing occurs upon conducting multi-color imagingand that when different colors overlap with each other, a portion of afirst color must be subjected to a solidifying treatment over asufficient period of time before the next color is formed for thepurpose of preventing color mixing. According to the present invention,however, the color mixing can be inhibited very well. In the case ofstereolithography, a bath treatment must be typically conducted forevery color. In a direct shaping process such as the liquid-jet, a coloris subjected to a solidifying treatment over a sufficient period oftime, and a three-dimensional object of a next color is then formed.However, the present invention is applied, whereby multi-color imagingimproved in color mixing can be preferably conducted without taking sucha too excess time in a liquid-jet process in particular. On the otherhand, such effect to inhibit color mixing cannot be explained by theviscoelastic properties alone. However, it is considered to relate tothe fact that a coloring material is formed by uniform micelle particlesof from several tens nanometers to submicrons.

In the present invention, a block polymer containing a polyalkenyl etherstructure is preferably used as a block polymer compound. A blockpolymer containing a polyvinyl ether structure is particularlypreferred. A great number of synthetic processes of the block polymercontaining the polyalkenyl ether structure used preferably in thepresent invention have been reported. A process by cationic livingpolymerization by Aoshima et al. (Journal of Polymer Bulletin, Vol. 15,p. 417, 1986; Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-322942) isrepresentative thereof. By conducting polymer synthesis by the cationicliving polymerization, various polymers such as homopolymers, copolymerscomposed of two or more monomers, block polymers, graft polymers andgraduation polymers can be synthesized with their chain lengths(molecular weights) exactly made uniform. In the polyalkenyl ether,various functional groups may be introduced in its side chains. Besides,the cationic polymerization may also be conducted in an HI/I₂ system,HCl/SnCl₄ system or the like.

The structure of the block polymer containing the polyalkenyl etherstructure may be a copolymer composed of vinyl ether and anotherpolymer.

The block polymer containing the polyvinyl ether structure preferablyused preferably has a repeating unit structure represented by thefollowing general formula (1):

wherein R₁ is selected from a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl grouphaving 1 to 18 carbon atoms, —(CH(R₂)—CH(R₃)—O)_(l)—R₄ and—(CH₂)_(m)—(O)_(n)—R₄, in which l and m are, independently of eachother, selected from integers of from 1 to 12, n is 0 or 1, R₂ and R₃are, independently of each other, hydrogen or CH₃, and R₄ is hydrogen, alinear, branched or cyclic alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, -Ph,-Pyr, -Ph-Ph, -Ph-Pyr, —CHO, —CH₂CHO, —CO—CH═CH₂, —CO—C(CH₃)═CH₂ or—CH₂COOR₅, with the proviso that when R₄ is any other group thanhydrogen, hydrogen bonded to carbon may be substituted by a linear orbranched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, F, Cl, Br, carboxylicacid, or carboxylic-acid salt, or carbon in the aromatic ring may besubstituted by nitrogen, and R₅ is hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1to 5 carbon atoms.

In the above, -Ph, -Pyr, -Ph-Ph and -Ph-Pyr denote a phenyl, pyridyl,biphenyl and pyridylphenyl groups, respectively. With respect to thepyridyl, biphenyl and pyridylphenyl groups, they may be any possibleposition isomers.

An amphiphilic block polymer can be obtained by, for example, conductingsynthesis by selecting a hydrophobic block segment and a hydrophilicblock segment from the repeating unit structures of the general formula(1). In the case of the graft polymer, an amphiphilic polymer can beobtained by, for example, grafting a hydrophobic polymer segment on ahydrophilic polymer.

As examples of specific repeating units of the hydrophilic blocksegment, the segment preferably has a repeating unit structurerepresented by the following general formula (2):

wherein R₂₁ is selected from —(CH(R₂)—CH(R₃)—O)_(l)—R₄ and—(CH₂)_(m)—(O)_(n)—R₄, in which l and m are, independently of eachother, selected from integers of from 1 to 12, n is 0 or 1, R₂ and R₃are, independently of each other, hydrogen or CH₃, and R₄ is hydrogen, alinear, branched or cyclic alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or analiphatic or aromatic carboxylic acid or carboxylic acid salt.

Preferable examples of the specific repeating units of the hydrophilicblock segment include the following units:

wherein Ph is 1,4-phenylene or 1,3-phenylene, Np is 2,6-naphthylene,1,4-naphthylene or 1,5-naphthylene, and M is a monovalent or polyvalentcation, with the proviso that when M is a polyvalent cation, a counteranion also takes a form corresponding to the cation.

As examples of specific repeating units of the hydrophobic blocksegment, the segment preferably has a repeating unit structurerepresented by the following general formula (3):

wherein R₃₁ is selected from a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl grouphaving 1 to 18 carbon atoms, —(CH(R₂)—CH(R₃)—O)_(l)—R₄ and—(CH₂)_(m)—(O)_(n)—R₄, in which l and m are, independently of eachother, selected from integers of from 1 to 12, n is 0 or 1, R₂ and R₃are, independently of each other, hydrogen or CH₃, and R₄ is a linear,branched or cyclic alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, -Ph, -Pyr,-Ph-Ph, -Ph-Pyr, —CHO, —CH₂CHO, —CO—CH═CH₂, —CO—C(CH₃)═CH₂ or —CH₂COOR₅,with the proviso that hydrogen bonded to carbon may be substituted by alinear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, F, Cl, or Br,or carbon in the aromatic ring may be substituted by nitrogen, and R₅ isan alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms.

Preferable examples of the specific repeating units of the hydrophobicblock segment include the following units:

wherein Ph is 1,4-phenylene or 1,3-phenylene, and Np is 2,6-naphthylene,1,4-naphthylene or 1,5-naphthylene.

The molecular weight distribution Mw (weight average molecularweight)/Mn (number average molecular weight) of the block polymer usedin the present invention is preferably 2.0 or lower, more preferably 1.6or lower, still more preferably 1.3 or lower, still further preferably1.2 or lower.

The number average molecular weight (Mn) of the block polymer or graftpolymer used in the present invention is preferably 200 or higher,preferably 3,000 or higher, but preferably does not exceed 1,000,000.When the number average molecular weight is 200 or higher, thedispersion stability of the functional substance is improved. In thepresent invention, the number average molecular weight and weightaverage molecular weight of a polymer can be measured by volumeexclusion chromatography (another name: gel permeationchromatography/GPC).

The content of the block copolymer or graft polymer contained in theliquid composition according to the present invention is from 0.1% bymass to 90% by mass, preferably from 1% by mass to 50% by mass. When thecontent is at least 0.1% by mass, the functional substance is dispersedor dissolved in the liquid composition in a sufficient state. When thecontent is not higher than 90% by mass, the viscosity of the resultingliquid composition becomes moderate. It is hence preferable to containthe block polymer or graft polymer within the above-described range.

The liquid composition according to the present invention contains aliquid medium. No particular limitation is imposed on the liquid mediumcontained in the liquid composition according to the present invention.The liquid medium means a liquid medium in which components to becontained in the liquid composition can be dissolved, suspended ordispersed. In the present invention, water-insoluble organic solventssuch as various kinds of linear, branched and cyclic aliphatichydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, and heterocyclic aromatichydrocarbons, water-soluble organic solvents, and water may be used asthe liquid medium. It goes without saying that a mixed solvent thereofmay be used.

A water-based liquid medium used in the liquid composition according tothe present invention is water or a hydrophilic liquid medium composedof water and a water-soluble organic solvent.

Examples of the water-soluble organic solvent include polyhydricalcohols such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol,polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, polypropylene glycol andglycerol, polyhydric alcohol ethers such as ethylene glycol monomethylether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether,diethylene glycol monoethyl ether and diethylene glycol monobutyl ether,and nitrogen-containing solvents such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone,substituted pyrrolidone and triethanolamine. A monohydric alcohol suchas methanol, ethanol or isopropanol may also be used. A water-solublepolymerizable compound may also be contained. Examples thereof includehydroxyethylacrylic acid, hydroxyethyl-methacrylic acid andstyrenesulfonic acid. A crosslinking agent may also be used at the sametime. Two or more of those described above may be used in combination asneeded.

As an organic liquid medium used in the liquid composition according tothe present invention, may be used, for example, toluene, hexane,heptane, nonane, an acetate, or a monohydric alcohol such as methanol,ethanol or isopropyl alcohol. Methacrylates, acrylates, styrene and thelike may also be mentioned. A crosslinking agent may also be used at thesame time. Two or more of those described above may be used incombination as needed.

The content of the liquid medium used in the liquid compositionaccording to the present invention may be selected from a range of from0.9% by mass to 99% by mass, and it is preferably from 10% by mass to99% by mass. When the content is not lower than 0.1% by mass, theviscosity of the resulting liquid composition becomes moderate. When thecontent is not higher than 99% by mass, the function of the polymer canbe sufficiently exhibited.

As the block polymer characteristically used in the present invention,at least two amphiphilic polymers may also be used in combination in thesame liquid composition as needed.

The functional substance contained in the liquid composition ispreferably included in the block polymer or graft polymer for thepurpose of inhibiting modification caused by attack from an externalenvironment (typically, for improving weatherability). The block polymeror graft polymer is effective in that it can easily include thefunctional substance therein by forming a self-accumulating structure.In order to improve the dispersion stability and inclusion property ofthe functional substance, the molecular motion of the block polymer orgraft polymer is preferably more flexible because such a polymer islikely to physically entangle with the surface of the functionalsubstance and have affinity for it. The polymer may also be preferablyflexible from the viewpoint of easy formation of a coating layer on arecording medium as described in detail below. Therefore, the glasstransition temperature Tg of the main chain of the block polymer ispreferably 20° C. or lower, more preferably 0° C. or lower, still morepreferably −20° C. or lower. In this regard, a polymer having apolyvinyl ether structure is preferably used because it has propertiesof a low glass transition point and is flexible. In this sense, theblock polymer having the polyvinyl ether structure may also bepreferably used.

The functional substance is preferably included in the liquidcomposition according to the present invention. The included state canbe formed by, for example, adding a solution of a coloring material inan organic solvent insoluble in water to a micelle formed by the blockpolymer or graft polymer in water and then distilling off the organicsolvent. Besides, it may also be formed by forming an inclusion state byconducting phase inversion into a hydrophilic solvent from a state thatboth block polymer or graft polymer and coloring material have beendissolved in an organic solvent, and distilling off the remainingorganic solvent. The confirmation of the included state can be performedby various kinds of electron microscopes and/or instrumental analysessuch as X-ray diffraction. In the case of inclusion in a micelle state,the included state can be indirectly confirmed by separation of thecoloring material from the solvent independently of the polymer underconditions of micelle collapse.

As described above, the block polymer or graft polymer preferably formsa micelle state. Therefore, it is effective that the block polymer orgraft polymer used in the present invention is amphiphilic. In thissense, the block polymer or graft polymer preferably has a polymersegment having an ionic repeating unit structure. In the presentinvention, the block polymer is preferably used from the viewpoints ofdispersion stability, inclusion of the functional substance and variousproperties such as viscosity.

The proportion of the functional substance included in the block polymeror graft polymer of the functional substance contained in the liquidcomposition is preferably 90% by mass or higher, more preferably 95% bymass or higher, still more preferably 98% by mass or higher based on thewhole mass of the functional substance. This quantitative proportion canalso be observed by various kinds of electron microscopes, instrumentalanalyses such as X-ray diffraction, or coloring density analysis whenthe functional substance is a coloring material, or by the indirectmethod described above.

Besides the above components, various kinds of modifiers or additivessuch as antioxidants, viscosity modifiers, ultraviolet absorbents,surfactants and mildewproofing agents may be added to the liquidcomposition according to the present invention.

In the present invention, plural kinds of liquid compositions may alsobe used in combination to shape a three-dimensional object. As describedabove, the multi-color three-dimensional imaging is an example thereof.A three-dimensionally structured material composed of plural kinds oflayers different in not only color species but also properties can alsobe produced. For example, a three-dimensional object may be formed byalternately stacking layers different in modulus or strength to producea three-dimensional object having both properties that are notnecessarily matched to each other, i.e., high modulus and excellentimpact resistance. A multi-color three-dimensional object may also beproduced. When a three-dimensional pattern is formed using such pluralkinds of liquid compositions, it is preferable that plural kinds ofliquid compositions containing the block polymer according to thepresent invention be used, at least one of the liquid compositions be awater-based liquid composition, and at least one of the other liquidcompositions be an oil-based liquid composition in that athree-dimensional object improved in mixing of 2 liquids (2 colors) canbe produced. All the liquid compositions used do not always contain theblock polymer, only one of them may be a liquid composition containingthe block polymer.

In the present invention, the liquid composition described above ismodified to produce a three-dimensional object. Some stimulus to be atrigger for modification is imparted to facilitate the modification,thereby solidifying the liquid composition to produce thethree-dimensional object. The polymer-containing composition accordingto the present invention can respond to various stimuli to modify itsstate (properties). As example of “stimuli” in the present invention,may be mentioned temperature change; application of an electric field;exposure to light (electromagnetic wave) such as ultraviolet light,visible light or infrared light; pH change of the composition; additionof a chemical substance; and concentration change of the composition.These stimuli may preferably be used in combination.

A specific example of a three-dimensional pattern-forming process for athree-dimensionally structured material according to the presentinvention is illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates athree-dimensional pattern-forming process by a liquid-jet method.Reference numerals 1 and 2 indicate liquid-jet devices typicallyillustrated. The liquid-jet device is basically the same device as anink-jet device of digital printing technology. A liquid is ejected by adrive device 3 to form a pattern. The thermal-jet or the piezo-jet isrepresentative of the drive device 3. The liquid-jet device may be acontinuous liquid-jet device that does not carry out on-demand driving.Reference numerals 4, 5 and 6 are a liquid feed passage, a liquidejection opening and a substrate on which a three-dimensional object isformed, respectively.

As a specific three-dimensional pattern-forming process, the liquid-jetdevices 1, 2 are used as liquid-jet devices of the heat retaining type.Two compositions are used as the liquid compositions. One is ablue-pigment-including liquid composition containing a block polymer ofwhich the viscosity and the elasticity at a temperature not higher than60° C. increase 3,000 times compared with those at a temperature higherthan that, and the other is a yellow pigment-including liquidcomposition containing a block polymer of which the viscosity and theelasticity at a temperature not higher than 60° C. increase 4,000 timescompared with those at a temperature higher than that. The blue liquidcomposition is first ejected on a desired pattern from a head of theliquid-jet device 1 retained to a temperature of 80° C. and primarilysolidified by increase in viscosity and elasticity attending ontemperature drop before and after impact on the substrate after theejection, thereby forming a three-dimensional basic pattern, duringwhich electromagnetic waves 7, typically ultraviolet rays, arecontinuously irradiated to complete the crosslinking and solidificationof the polymer. Before long, the yellow liquid composition is ejectedfrom a head of the liquid-jet device 2 in the same manner as in the headof the liquid-jet device 1 to form a pattern. In such a manner, athree-dimensional object is easily formed because the characteristicblock polymer according to the present invention is used. In addition,color mixing is markedly improved. In order to effectively develop thefeature of the present invention as described above, a combination ofplural stimuli such as thermal stimulus and electromagnetic wavestimulus is preferably used. Specifically, one of the stimuli ispreferably electromagnetic wave stimulus in that it can be imparted withno contact. In the present invention, however, it is only necessary touse modification by at least one stimulus, and it is not essential toconduct modification by plural kinds of stimuli.

The present invention may also be applied to fabricating processes formicromechanic devices, semiconductor devices, TFT, and display devicessuch as an organic EL.

FIG. 2 is a functional diagram schematically illustrating a liquid-jetrecording apparatus. Reference numeral 50 indicates a central processingunit (CPU) of the liquid-jet recording apparatus 20. A program forcontrolling the CPU 50 may be stored in a program memory 66 or may alsobe stored in a memory means such as EEPROM (not illustrated) as theso-called firmware. According to the liquid-jet recording apparatus,recording data is received from a recording data-preparing means (notillustrated, computer or the like) to the program memory 66. Therecording data may be information itself of a three-dimensional objectto be recorded, compressed information thereof or encoded information.When the compressed or encoded information is processed, expansion ordevelopment can be conducted by the CPU 50 to obtain the information ofimages or characters to be recorded. An X-encoder 62 (for example,relating to an X-direction or main scanning direction) and a Y-encoder64 (for example, relating to a Y-direction or secondary scanningdirection) can be provided to notify a relative position of a head to asubstrate as a recording medium to the CPU 50.

The CPU 50 sends signals for recording a three-dimensional image to anX-motor drive circuit 52, a Y-motor drive circuit 54 and a head drivecircuit 60 on the basis of the information of the program memory 66,X-encoder 62 and Y-encoder 64. The X-motor drive circuit 52 and Y-motordrive circuit 54 drive an X-direction drive motor 56 and a Y-directiondrive motor 58, respectively, to move a head 70 relatively to thesubstrate and to a recording position. The head drive circuit 60 sendssignals for conducting ejection of various kinds of liquid compositionsto the head 70 at the time the head 70 has been moved to the recordingposition, thereby conducting recording. The head 70 may be a head forejecting a single liquid composition or a head for ejecting plural kindsof liquid compositions.

The present invention will hereinafter be described in detail by thefollowing examples. However, the present invention is not limited tothese examples.

EXAMPLE 1

<Block Polymer 1 Used>

Synthesis of triblock polymer composed of isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE;block A), 2-(2-ethoxyethyl)oxyethyl vinyl ether (EOEOVE; block B) andethyl 4-(2-vinyloxy)ethoxy-benzoate (VEOEtPhCOOEt; block C)

After the interior of a glass container equipped with a three-waystop-cock was purged with nitrogen, the container was heated to 250° C.under a nitrogen gas atmosphere to remove adsorbed water. After thesystem was returned to room temperature, 12 mmol of IBVE, 16 mmol ofethyl acetate, 0.05 mmol of 1-isobutoxyethyl acetate and 11 ml oftoluene were added to cool the reaction system. At the time thetemperature within the system had reached 0° C., 0.2 mmol ofethylaluminum sesquichloride (equimolar mixture of diethylaluminumchloride and ethylaluminum dichloride) was added to initiatepolymerization. The molecular weight was periodically monitored by meansof gel permeation chromatography (GPC) to confirm completion of thepolymerization of a block A.

Then, 18 mmol of a monomer of a block B was added to continue thepolymerization. After completion of the polymerization of the block Bwas confirmed by monitoring by means of GPC, a toluene solution of 10mmol of a component of a block C was added to continue thepolymerization. After 20 hours, the polymerization reaction wasterminated. The termination of the polymerization reaction was conductedby adding a 0.3% by mass aqueous solution of ammonia/methanol into thesystem. The reaction mixture solution was diluted with dichloromethaneand washed 3 times with 0.6 M hydrochloric acid and then 3 times withdistilled water. The resultant organic phase was concentrated and driedto solids by an evaporator, and the residue was vacuum-dried. Theresultant product was dialyzed repeatedly in a methanol solvent using asemi-permeable membrane composed of cellulose to remove monomericcompounds, thereby obtaining the intended triblock polymer. Theidentification of the compound was conducted by means of NMR and GPC. Mnwas 50,600, and Mw/Mn was 1.34. The polymerization ratio of A to B to Cwas 200:300:30.

The block polymer thus obtained was hydrolyzed in a mixed solution ofdimethylformamide and aqueous sodium hydroxide, whereby the block Ccomponent was hydrolyzed to obtain a triblock polymer in the form of asodium salt. The identification of the compound was conducted by meansof NMR and GPC.

This polymer was neutralized with 0.1N hydrochloric acid in an aqueousdispersion to obtain a triblock polymer, in which the block C componentturned into a free carboxylic acid. The identification of the compoundwas conducted by means of NMR and GPC.

<Block Polymer 2 Used>

Block Polymer 2 was obtained by copolymerizing 2 mol % of2-vinyloxyethyl methacrylate with the monomer of the segment B of BlockPolymer 1.

<Liquid Composition>

One hundred parts by mass of Block Polymer 1 in the form of acarboxylate obtained above and 20 parts by mass of Oil Blue N (tradename, C.I. Solvent Blue 14, product of Aldrich Co.) were both dissolvedin 250 parts by mass of THF and 80 parts by mass of ethylene glycol, theresultant solution was inverted into a water phase with 1,000 parts bymass of distilled water, and water was distilled off under pressure toreduce the amount of the liquid, thereby obtaining Liquid Composition(1). Even when the ink composition thus obtained was left to stand for10 days at room temperature, neither separation nor precipitationoccurred.

Liquid Composition (2) was prepared in the same manner as in thepreparation of Liquid Composition (1) except that the coloring materialwas changed to C.I. Pigment Blue 15:3. Even when the ink compositionthus obtained was left to stand for 10 days at room temperature, neitherseparation nor precipitation occurred.

Liquid Composition (3) was prepared in the same manner as in thepreparation of Liquid Composition (1) except that the coloring materialwas changed to a yellow oil-soluble dye (VALIFAST YELLOW 3108, tradename, product of Orient Chemical Industries Ltd.). Even when the inkcomposition thus obtained was left to stand for 10 days at roomtemperature, neither separation nor precipitation occurred.

Liquid Composition (4) was prepared in the same manner as in thepreparation of Liquid Composition (1) except that Block Polymer 2 in theform of a carboxylate obtained above was used, a yellow oil-soluble dye(VALIFAST YELLOW 3108, trade name, product of Orient Chemical IndustriesLtd.) was used as the coloring material, and 3 parts by mass of aphoto-polymerization initiator (IRGACURE 184, trade name, product ofCiba-Geigy Limited) was added.

G′ and G″ of Liquid Compositions (1) to (4) at 80° C. and 0° C. areshown in the following Table 1. The measurement was conducted by meansof Rheometer DAR100 (trade name, manufactured by Rheologica Instruments)by applying sinusoidal oscillation of 1 Hz. TABLE 1 80° C. 0° C. G′ (Pa)G″ (Pa) G′ (Pa) G″ (Pa) Liquid Composition (1) 0.012 0.009 8,142 1,320Liquid Composition (2) 0.008 0.010 12,290 4,578 Liquid Composition (3)0.010 0.009 9,788 5,544 Liquid Composition (4) 0.010 0.010 10,234 2,320

Each of Liquid Compositions (1) to (4) was adjusted to pH 2 with dilutedhydrochloric acid at 80° C. As a result, colored micelle particles wereprecipitated. A supernatant obtained by removing the particles bycentrifugation was colorless. With respect to the density ratio in termsof the intensity ratio at λmax between the ink composition and thedecolored water phase, the absorbancy of the supernatant was lower thanthe detection limit. From this fact, it was found that the coloringmaterial was completely included in the block polymer micelle.

<Production of Three-Dimensional Object>

A heater was installed in a head part of an ink-jet printer (BJC-800J,trade name, manufactured by Canon Inc.) to control the head part withina range of 80° C.±4° C. using a thermocouple. A cover was removed fromthe printer to arrange a silane-coupling-agent-coated stainlesssubstrate having a thickness of 0.3 mm, which was a recording medium,with a distance of 20 mm from the head. The substrate was held at 0° C.Liquid Composition (4) was charged into an ink tank to conduct recording2,500 times in the whole region of 1 mm×5 mm while being irradiated withultraviolet light of about 2 mW/cm² with a central wavelength of 365 nmat a time duty of 4% and 0.1 Hz, thereby producing a three-dimensionalobject A. The three-dimensional object A thus obtained had an averagewidth of 1.22 mm, an average length of 5.45 mm and an average height of9.55 mm.

Liquid Composition (1) was used to produce a three-dimensional object Bin the same manner as described above. The three-dimensional object thusobtained had an average width of 1.26 mm, an average length of 5.99 mmand an average height of 7.55 mm. G′ and G″ of this three-dimensionalobject were measured in accordance with the method described above andwere found to be 18,442 Pa and 8,541 Pa, respectively.

Liquid Compositions (2) and (3) were respectively used to producethree-dimensional-objects C and D in the same manner as in LiquidComposition (1), so that similar three-dimensional objects could beproduced.

Just after the production of the three-dimensional object B, LiquidComposition (4) was applied on the object with the same pattern toproduce a three-dimensional object. The three-dimensional object thusobtained had an average width of 1.23 mm, an average length of 5.67 mmand an average height of 18.44 mm. Color mixing between blue and yellowcolors was scarcely observed. The color mixing thickness at the portionwhere the most severe color mixing was observed was at most 0.05 mm.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1

Water, acrylic acid and 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate were mixed in a massratio of 68:12:20 (in terms of parts by mass). To this mixture wereadded 1 part by mass of a photo-polymerization initiator (IRGACURE 184,trade name, product of Ciba-Geigy Limited) and 3 parts by mass of C.I.Direct Yellow 12, thereby preparing Liquid Composition α. LiquidComposition β was also prepared in the same manner as described aboveexcept that the coloring material was changed to C.I. Direct Red 1. Atwo-color three-dimensional object was produced in the same manner as inEXAMPLE 1 except that Liquid Compositions α and β were used. However,severe color mixing between yellow and red colors was observed, and thewhole thereof turned orange.

According to the process and apparatus of the present invention forproducing a three-dimensionally structured material, thethree-dimensionally structured material can be easily produced bymodifying a liquid composition comprising a block polymer and a liquidmedium, so that they can be utilized in a process for forming a stericthree-dimensional pattern in fabrication of devices making good use ofmicromechanics or active devices used in semiconductors and displayelements.

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2004-018877 filed on Jan. 27, 2004, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein.

1. A process for producing a three-dimensionally structured material,which comprises the steps of preparing a liquid composition comprising ablock polymer and a liquid medium, and imparting a stimulus to theliquid composition to modify the block polymer, thereby forming thethree-dimensionally structured material.
 2. The production processaccording to claim 1, which further comprises a step of solidifying theliquid composition after the modification of the block copolymer.
 3. Theproduction process according to claim 1, wherein the block polymer isamphiphilic and forms micelles.
 4. The production process according toclaim 1, wherein the stimulus to the liquid composition is selected fromtemperature change, application of an electric field, exposure toelectromagnetic wave, pH change, addition of a chemical substance, andconcentration change.
 5. The production process according to claim 1,which further comprises a step of ejecting the liquid composition toform the three-dimensionally structured material.
 6. The productionprocess according to claim 1, wherein a functional substance is includedin the block polymer.
 7. The production process according to claim 6,wherein the functional substance is selected from an agriculturalchemical, a medicament and a coloring material.
 8. The productionprocess according to claim 7, wherein the coloring material includes apigment.
 9. The production process according to claim 1, wherein theblock polymer has a repeating structure of a monomer unit composed of analkenyl ether.
 10. An apparatus for producing a three-dimensionallystructured material, which comprises a means for imparting a stimulus toa liquid composition comprising a block polymer and a liquid medium tomodify the block polymer, thereby forming the three-dimensionallystructured material.
 11. A liquid composition suitable for use inproducing a three-dimensionally structured material, which comprises ablock polymer modifiable by stimulus and a liquid medium.
 12. The liquidcomposition according to claim 11, wherein the block polymer isamphiphilic and forms micelles.
 13. The liquid composition according toclaim 11, wherein the block polymer has a repeating structure of amonomer unit composed of an alkenyl ether.
 14. A three-dimensionallystructured material formed by a block polymer modifiable by stimulus.